Does my phone support eSIM: a ten-second check
Model lists for iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel and others, a ten-second check in settings, and what to do if the phone was bought in China.
The fastest check needs no lists at all. Open settings and see whether there is an option to add a SIM:
- iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM. If the option is there, the phone supports it.
- Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add eSIM (wording varies by manufacturer).
If the option is missing, stop searching — the lists below explain why.
iPhone
Every model from the iPhone XR and XS (2018) onwards supports eSIM. One exception matters: iPhones bought in mainland China physically lack eSIM and take two physical SIMs instead. Hong Kong and Macau XS and XR models are also without it, while newer Hong Kong models do support it.
US models from the iPhone 14 onwards ship with no SIM tray at all — eSIM only.
Samsung
Supported from the Galaxy S20 onwards (with regional exceptions for the FE), plus:
- Galaxy S20 and newer, including S21, S22, S23, S24, S25
- Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold, all generations
- Galaxy Note 20
- Galaxy A54, A55 and some of the A series
Samsung support depends on the sales region more than Apple's does: the same model can have eSIM in Europe and not in some Asian markets. The settings check beats any list.
Google Pixel
Supported from the Pixel 3 onwards, except units bought in South-East Asia. Pixel 4a and newer, no caveats.
Everyone else
eSIM works on many Huawei models (P40, Mate 40), Motorola (Razr, Edge), Sony (Xperia 10 III and newer), Oppo (Find X3 and newer), OnePlus (11 and newer) and Xiaomi (13 and newer — though Xiaomi depends on regional firmware more than anyone).
Two common reasons it "does not work"
The phone is carrier-locked. Handsets bought on instalments from a US or European operator are often locked and will not accept another profile. The operator unlocks them, usually free once the device is paid off.
Regional variant. Chinese versions almost always omit eSIM — true for iPhone and for a good share of Android too.
In short
- The settings check is faster than any list.
- iPhone: XR and XS onwards, except Chinese versions.
- Samsung: S20 onwards, region dependent.
- Pixel: 3 onwards, except Asian versions.
- A carrier-locked phone will not accept the profile.